Independents

R.S. Oehler #1 update #3

 

Hi All
Well it's time to brign you all up to date as to the progress of my watch. Recently I have been real busy in my shop and have not had the time that I would like to have to devote to #1. Hope You Enjoy

In the first and second photo I have shot the watch from the side so you can see the pallet placement. Yes I know I am only using a single roller but hey it's from an Elgin and remember this watch is just a learning expirance. If this was R.S. Oehler #2 you would be looking at the spring detent of a Peto Cross Detent. I laid out the plates with the intention of using that escpement in but not in the first watch. Form the back plate you can see that there are 2 visible jewels on the cock to the right. If this were #2 there would only be the escape wheel pivot showing and it would be symetrical with the bridge on the left.
3rd wheel on left, 4th wheel in middle bridge and escpae wheel on right bridge. Again I degress

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Notice how the barrell bridge has a rough polished finish and the scape-pallet bridge is just rough filed, man that realy shows up. I did not polish that bridge yet just incase I needed to change it a little. All plates will be polished to close to mirror then frosed prior to plating to give it that mercurical gild look. You may also notice the winding arbor made earlier in place and ready to do busines. It was left longer then needed so it could be trimmed to an existing case. #2 will have female winding and settign holes.

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The next photo is just a top shot of the movement to date.

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The next two photos are just showing the ratchet wheel cut out being machined.

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The next three photos are of the devolping click and click spring. The first photo shows the disc that was made to cut out the click and click spring. This is made of O-1 oil hardening tool steel. The counter boar is for the sholder screw that it will pivot on. It was then parted off and stoned to thickness

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After the thickenss was achived I sawed out the click and spring and polished. The next photo shows the click and spring at this point along with the slightly modified ratchet wheel. The screw hole was drilled and counter sunk and the plate drilled and tapped. A small flat head screw was made and the click spring was screwed to the plate. At this time the sholder screw was made and the plated tapped to accept them. The 2 locating pin holes were drilled and pins made from O-1.

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It was then noticed that the click was not working as planned so extra filing was used to get the funcition down. The screws, click, and click spring were harened , lightly polished, blue tempered, polished more and then finished off to a black polish, including the ratcht wheel. The next photo shows the assembly complete, installed, and functioning in the watch. The ratchet wheel still has a few scratches needing attention.

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Now when you push the pallet it ticks and tocks and all is well in my world.

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Now things are getting good and I am feeling proud. Nothing like a balance wheel to take you down a notch or two.
The next groupe of photos are the balance wheel takign shape.
Photo one shows the balance turned on the 6inch swing atlas. The hole in the center is just drilled at this point. The boaring is a little later. The balance is made from stainless steel.

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In the next two photos you can see the balance's center hold being boared to diameter. That diameter is 1.4mm (0.055")

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The photo below is a jump of a few steps. The balance was parted off and a brass slug was turned down to just a tad bigger then the inside diameter of the balance. An extreamly slight taper was snaded on and the balance drove on to this holder. The balance was faced and grained to .45mm (0.018") thick for the balance arms. Several lines were laid out by raising the turning tool and indexing the spindle of the lathe. The Atlas 6" has indexing facilities built into it's head. Then a few rings were scribed for the hub area and where the timing wight pins are going to be. For those of you who were just confused you will have to wieght until I am finished to see what I mean of get a look at pic's or watches with a daniels monometalic balance.

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The next photo is of the balance after dirlling and sawing to remove the unwanted stock. I left a great deal of stock on around the balance rim I was scard of warping of damaging the rim. Big mistake it took forever to file. I wanted to show my wife the balance and after she saw it I put it in the cubbard in our kitchen. After lunch I picked up the little tray that it was in and it slipped out and bounce to points then unknowen. After a hour search it was retrived and from now on I will bring my wife to the watchparts not the other way.

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After filing and more filing and you guessed it more filing I found out I had only roughed out one opening. I learned my lesson on sawing close to the mark and don't leave too much on. After what seemed like a entirnity, more like a week I have the balance to this point. The rim is basically finished and the hub is close, just a little more finsh filing to make it look nice and round. The scribed lines are on the under side of the balance. The arms are a little wavy and intentionaly left heavy.

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What's next.
1. Make a tempory staff so I can poise the balance wheel. This is the main reason for leaving somthing on the spokes.
2. Drill the balance for the adjusting weight pins.
3. Make a potance for the lower balance hole and cap jewels and banking pins for the pallet to rest on.
4. Make timing weights
5. Make a staff, roller table, and hairspring collet, and piose the assembly by adjusting the timing weights.
5. Make upper balance cock and balance jewel assembly.
6. That more then enough to the next installment
Actually I will be lucky enough to get 1 to 3 before the next installment.

Thanks for all your kind words for the last instalments and sorry for the lenght of this one. Let me know if I need to trim down future reports.

As Always sorry for the spelling and grammer (or lack or it)

Take Care
Bob Oehler